Friday

Jun 21, 2019 at 1:45 PM

Sure, we know parrots and other birds can learn to sing. But have you heard a seal perform a little song?

Scientists at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland successfully taught seals to sing, a new study reveals. The research found that gray seals have vocal tracts similar to humans, allowing them to create and learn new sounds later in life when many species of animals can't.

Zola, Janice and Gandalf learned to mimic sound sequences and more in hundreds of training sessions using positive reinforcement. By the end of the study, Zola was able to carry a tune, while Gandalf and Janice successfully learned to mimic human vowel sounds.

In the video from the University of St. Andrews, the seals sing a little ditty then unceremoniously slip back into the water. They might be a little off-key and off-tune, but hey, they're seals. It's pretty impressive.

Read the full study published in Current Biology. You can watch the seals replicate sounds, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and the "Star Wars" theme below.